Co-Founder of TangoCode, a Chicago custom development firm. Passionate about creating a diverse culture and promote it within the community.

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Most of us have been trained to think change is scary. It’s unexpected, hard to control and virtually impossible to predict. While uncertainty is always a bit uncomfortable to lean into, change is necessary. It moves us, yes, but it often pushes us to bigger and better places. When we commit to embracing change, it keeps us from getting stuck in one place. It keeps things from getting stagnant.

That’s exactly what’s happening as the tech world becomes more diverse. If we’re going to keep moving forward at this exciting pace, technology will need diversity. Diversity brings colorful new backgrounds and perspectives to keep us innovating and creating. Unfortunately, the process of integrating diversity has its challenges.

If we want to drive change, though, we have to start with the things we can control. Let's explore why diversity matters so much in the tech sector — and what your company can to do support it.

The Current State Of Diversity In Tech

If we’re going to solve the challenges of diversity in tech, we have to understand where we’re starting from. Here are some statistics (taken from an Atlassian study) about diversity and tech, as they stand today:

While 80% of survey respondents agree that inclusion and diversity are important, the industry sees a 50% decrease in individual participation each year.

Less than 30% of underrepresented groups in the tech world have representation, a sense of belonging or retention.

Those statistics are startling. So, what’s the problem? If diversity isso important to companies, why are so many tech firms struggling to stay accountable and keep driving inclusivity forward? The answer, it turns out, is simple: Diversity is hard.

Think of diversity in the tech world as a seldom traveled road. It goes somewhere important, but many companies have chosen, thus far, not to take it. Diversity in tech presents a series of complex problems, from implicit bias to immigration politics, and it’s difficult for even the most committed firms to stay the course when progress seems slow.

Additionally, many focus on the wrong aspects of “diversity,” seeking to onboard diverse candidates, rather than promoting a sense of inclusivity and belonging within the company itself.

Five Ways Your Company Can Promote Diversity

Why wait for the rest of the tech environment to change? You can start promoting diversity at your firm with these five actionable tips:

1. Focus on Inclusion

Diversity follows inclusion. When minorities feel they belong in a company and are needed at decision-making tables, they’re more likely to seek out opportunities within your firm. To that end, today’s tech companies must start cultivating a culture of respect, acknowledgment and openness.

Small gestures and larger gestures are encouraged. At our company, we encourage employees to bring food from their countries, funded by the company, so we can try food from other backgrounds. We celebrate birthdays by singing in English and then the native language of the person celebrating, and we encourage heritage stories and actions that reflect inclusion — and then highlight them across the company. These small gestures add up to a big statement on inclusion.

2. Flip The Script

Women in demanding positions are held to impossible expectations. They have to balance being mothers, employees, wives and homemakers — and do it all perfectly and without needing help, ever. The glaring problem here, though, is that this is a very unrealistic expectation.

If we’re going to promote diversity and inclusion in tech firms, we must start splitting these burdens. This includes everything from family-friendly policies to a more significant emphasis on work-life balance. Nobody is an island, and humanizing our workplaces will go a long way toward promoting diversity within them.

3. Give Diversity A Chance

Diversity refers to much more than a person’s country of origin. It refers to their background, their story and their perspective. Today, even the most diverse tech companies risk being a bit homogenous in their hiring practices: Everyone has a computer science degree from a prestigious university.

If we’re going to promote real diversity, we need to start giving less traditional candidates a chance. When we expand the philosophies surrounding our hiring practices, we become more purposeful about onboarding people with the right attitude and the ability to learn fast, rather than the perfect resume on paper.

4. Encourage Diverse Employees To Step Up

Women and minorities in the tech world often do not see robust leadership representation or a concrete set of policies or programs for their career progression. As a result, they don’t always step up when something like a promotion comes their way. This is a sad state of affairs, and it’s one we need to change.

If we’re going to create more diverse firms, we need to become advocates for diverse employees stepping up in the face of opportunities. When diverse employees believe they have the same capabilities, skills and rights as everyone else — and feel supported by other employees — the entire firm wins.

5. Identify Unconscious Bias

Unconscious bias exists in all of us, whether we like it or not. The best thing we can do to change it is to promote awareness. If your network is less diverse, notice that and make a point to extend your reach. Pay attention to the language you use in your job listings to make sure it’s not alienating diverse candidates.

Take a proactive approach to work purposefully against your bias and strive to foster a mindset of inclusion and diversity each day.

More Diverse Workplaces Are The Way Of The Future

The tech world is full of excitement and promise, and if we all put our heads together to solve the problems of diversity and inclusion, we can ensure it stays that way. By starting with the cultures we can control — the ones within our own companies — we can truly change the tech world once and for all.